Research Projects

The increasing carbon footprint and global energy demand have led to the development of high-efficient renewable energy conversion and storage technologies, such as Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). These batteries rely on three components: cobalt-based cathode, graphite-based anode, and ion-conducting liquid electrolyte. However, issues such as scarcity of cobalt abundance, less abundant natural graphite, and low thermal stability limit their application for high energy density applications. This proposal aims to develop low cobalt to no cobalt nickel-rich cathodes with high theoretical capacity value, containing silicon-based nanostructured silicon-carbide anodes. The proposed ionic liquids loaded gel-polymer electrolyte membranes have high operating voltage, high wettability, good electrode electrolyte interface contact, high ion transport, good dendrite suppression capacity, and thermo-electrochemical stability for high energy density LIBs. The best-performing cathode, anode, and gel-polymer electrolyte membrane materials are assembled to create a full Li-ion battery with a high operating voltage of over 4.7 V. The electrochemical performances like cycle stability, C-rate, fast charging, self-discharge, etc., are benchmarked at coin-type and single electrode pouch type battery levels.